Volleyball | 10/31/2009 10:16:03 PM

Box Score [Box score]

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Four Alaska Fairbanks hitters recorded double-digit kills as the Nanooks came to Monmouth and defeated the Western Oregon volleyball team in four sets, 25-12, 18-25, 25-21 and 25-16, Saturday (Oct. 31).

The win gave the Nanooks (11-12, 5-7 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) their first back-to-back road victories of the season as the Wolves dropped to 7-17 (4-9 GNAC) with their sixth straight loss.

The Nanooks used a decisive .403 to .215 hitting percentage advantage as it controlled the match for all but the second set. The .403 hitting percentage broke the GNAC four-set match record which Alaska had set in 2003 in a match against Humboldt State (.385). Jessica Hill registered 16 kills to lead Alaska.

It was senior night for Western Oregon, but it was two freshmen that stepped up to lead the Wolves in kills. Outside hitter Irene Walters posted a team-leading 12 kills and notched a match-best 50 attempts. Middle blocker Samantha Ward recorded a .296 hitting percentage with 10 kills and just two errors.

The all four WOU seniors still recorded strong individual performances. Danielle English had 10 digs to lead the team in the category for the fifth straight match. Amy Herron dished out a team-high 41 assist while Laura Sakala led WOU with two blocks to go along with her 10 kills. Lisa Martini extended her lead in the GNAC hitting percentage race as she recorded 8 kills and just two errors for a .400 hitting mark.

After falling hard in the first set as the Nanooks hit .615, the Wolves responded with a strong showing to take the second set. WOU outhit them .344 to .242 and had just only four errors compared to eight for UAF as it evened the match at one set apiece. However, after halftime, Western Oregon was unable to recapture that momentum and dropped the next two sets.

The Wolves will now go on the road for its final three matches of the season. It was start at Montana State Billings, Thursday, Nov. 5, before heading to Northwest Nazarene on Saturday (Nov. 7). Its season finale will be Nov. 12, at Saint Martin's.